Does Torture Work?

[ouij]

Another lengthy excerpt from Horne's A Savage War of Peace on the effectiveness of torture. Linked references and bracketed material added:

How effective was torture?

There remains the vital question, with much relevance to today: what did torture achieve in the Battle of Algiers? Putting aside any consideration of morality, was it even

Comments

[boomblast]

Wow. That sounds like a harrowing but enthrawling read.

[ouij]

The horror here is how quickly and completely things got out of hand. French reprisals drove Algerians to the rebel colors. The F.L.N. would attack indiscriminately, and withdraw, leaving the French to thrash madly with their reprisal killings, which would then provoke another spasm of violence.

Then there's the opening of the Battle of Algiers itself: a prelude, with plot by white French settlers to kill the French chief of police (whom they thought too soft on the rebels). The bombing campaign, conducted by beautiful Arab women who flirted with the soldiers at the checkpoints before bombing the cafes and restaurants of Algiers. Race riots pacified by impassioned singings of la Marseillaise . Old men being waterboarded, beaten, and electrocuted.

It's riveting. I wonder why I had never read about this before.